Wire dispenser



Sept. 21, 1965 G. D. PATRICK ETAL 3,207,564

WIRE DISPENSER Filed March 27, 1963 C@ clam/sang,

INVENTORS.

rraQA/Ej/ United States Patent O 3,207,564 WIRE DISPENSER George D. Patrick, San Diego, and Vernon H. Johnson,

El Cajon, Calif., assignors to General Dynamics Corporation, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,357 2 Claims. (Cl. S12- 73) This invention relates in general to wire dispensers and more particularly, to dispensers for making readily available for manual withdrawal a plurality of stored wires.

Various methods for the storage of wires for access adjacent electronics assembly workbenches have heretofore been employed, including container members extending through the workbench surface itself as permanent installations. Wire is often reel-mounted and cut to size immediately before use by the assembler. Often, because of the desirability of having wires available ready cut to length for particular jobs, the wires are pre-cut and loose bundled at the workbench with appropriate labeling for individual wire withdrawal by the assembler. Other methods have also been used. However, the storage methods conventionally employed are subject to deficiencies. The fixed bench installation is space-consuming and inflexible. Ready re-stocking of the wire storage containers is difficult and the usable workbench surface is reduced by the area devoted to such storage. Where the electronic installations require a number of different wires, the space taken up by a number of spaced apart wire containers is considerable. Withdrawal of the container wires from storage position at the termination of the job is further difficult, as is convenient storage for later use.

Methods lof reel storage necessitate that the assembler individually select, measure and cut the wire as needed for each particular wire installation. This occasions frequent interruption of assembly effort, resulting in substantially reduced work output with the always attendant possibility of error in lengths of cut. Space is also here a consideration, as the wire reels are generally large and a number may be necessary if the job requires numerous wire lengths and sizes. A further drawback of such an arrangement is the wire inventory tied up where many work stations may be using the same wire, as is frequently the case. Hence, duplicate reels must be stored for use on an as-needed basis at the station assembly benches. In contrast with the fixed bench storage containers and the reel installations, pre-cut bundles of labeled wire have the advantage of portability and ready adaptability to the job. Wires may be pre-cut, taken to the bench, used to the extent necessary7 removed, replenished and/or stored ready for later use. The operatcr at the bench thus has available at the simple grasp of the hand the appropriate wire for his job. However, this convenience is achieved at the expense of considerable workbench area where the bundles of pre-cut wire must be positioned close to the operator for easy accessibility and this requires placement upon or closely adjacent the workbench. The valuable area needed for storage of electrical components to be incorporated into the electronic units being assembled is thereby sacrificed. The bundles can present a considerable nuisance too, particularly where the wires are long and the bundles bulky, as the assembler must direct his attention to maintaining the position of the bundles while at the same time withdrawing the individual wires. Obviously, this rerequires a two-handed effort.

Conventional storage arrangements often require the use of both hands for wire selecting and cutting. Since the assembler is generally making use of soldering equipment to accomplish wire connection, the soldering equipment must be intermittently picked up and put down as the assembler reaches his next wire installation. Not only is this interruptive of work flow, but it also presents a possible hazard to the operator lin inadvertently contacting the hot soldering equipment.

In contrast with the above described conventional methods for achieving wire storage or employment at workbench areas, this invention provides a dispensing unit of simple construction which is readily portable, hence adaptable to various jobs and storable and which is easily installable adjacent the workbench in the minimum of space for convenient accessibility to the assembler. Employed is an outer housing provided with a diagonally extending opening at one end from which protrude a number of elongate wire storage containers of varying length arranged in staggered tiers. The profile contiguration of these tiers generally conforms to the diagonally extending opening provided in the housing. Access slots are provided in each of the wire confining containers at their exposed protruding ends to make the wire conveniently available for finger withdrawal.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wire dispenser and storage unit which is simple and economical to construct, providing convenient availability of wires to the workbench station.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which may be easily removed as a unit from the workbench area for restocking and for storage and ready availability for later use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire dispenser unit which permits ready single-hand Withdrawal of wires by the using assembler.

Still another object is to provide a unit, as described, which permits the user, at a glance, to View his stock of wires and to make rapid and accurate selection without interruption to the work liow.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a wire dispenser and storage unit which is subject to fabrication from a wide variety of readily available and cheap materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser and storage unit which may be readily assembled and disassembled for loading with wires appropriately precut.

Yet another object is to provide a unit of the char acter described which though economical and simple to construct and performing as described, minimizes the amount of wire tied up as bench inventory.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a view in perspective of a pair of the invention storage and dispenser units installed immediately adjacent a workbench;

FIG. 2 is a. view in vertical cross-section of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in plan disclosing the open upper ends of the housed wire containers of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially broken away to disclose the details of a typical wire container employed in the invention.

Turning rst to FlG. l of the drawing, two of the wire dispenser and storage units 6 are shown mounted in an upright position upon a panel 8 extending vertically upward from the horizontal surface 10 of a workbench 12. Angular retainer members 14 embrace the dispensers 6 maintaining them in an upright position in abutment with the upright panel 8. The dispensing units at their lower ends rest upon the workbench surface 10.

As is apparent in FIGS. l and 2, the dispenser unit is comprised of a housing 16 having parallel spaced apart front and rear walls 18 and 20 and spaced apart side walls 22 and 24. FIG. 3 discloses the housing cross-section as of generally rectangular configuration. The aforementioned retainer members 14 are angularly shaped to conform thereto and permit ready withdrawal of the dispenser units from their retained position adjacent the workbench. At its upper end, housing 16 is square cut or formed with an open end 26 and at its lower end is provided with a diagonally extending opening 28 defined by the tapered side walls 22 and 24 andy their respective edge margins 30 and 32. The margins terminate at their lower ends at a lip or ange 34 extending forwardly from the housing rear wall 20. A variety of materials may be employed in constructing the housing, depending upon the permanency desired for the unit. However, since the dispenser unit normally would not be expected to undergo rough and damaging usage, corrugated paperboard will often be satisfactory and economical. Of greater durability and also of reasonable cost is plastic. Other materials capable of maintaining a more or less rigid shape will be readily apparentY as suitable.

In FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the housing 16 is shown embracing a plurality of elongate tubular container members 36 of varying lengths extending from the top to the diagonally extending bottom opening of the housing 16 and being open at the upper ends 38 and closed by caps 40 at their lower ends. As best shown in FIG. 3, the containers 36 are positioned in abutment for maximum space utilization and are secured against relative movement one to the other by tapes 42 and 44 girdling the containers. The containers 36 may be conveniently assembled as a unit and then inserted within the housing. Through friction fit with the housing and abutment with its ange 34, the containers are fixed against movement relative to the housing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the container members 36 arranged in staggered tiers or groups of three of similar length, the lengths of the four groups shown being respectively governed to conformV generally with thev diagonally extending opening 28 of the housing and of course with the lengths of the wires to be housed. As thus arranged, the containers 36 each project into the opening 28 to expose their lower ends to access. Each of the containers is provided at its exposed end with an aperture or access slot 46 of a size suflicient to permit finger grasp of wires 48 stored therein for dispensing. The slots 46 may be spaced a sufficient distance above the container ends to permit gripping of the insulated portion of the wires without contact and contamination of their stripped bare ends 50. The portion of the container intermediate each container slot and the container bottom may be utilized for securing of appropriate labels 52 to guide the assembler in selecting the proper wire. It will be noted that the `tubular containers as thus arranged in Istaggered tiers create a minimum of interference with the workbench surface, as only the rearmost row of container members 36 is disposed in close proximity to the workbench surface 10. Concerning materials for the container members, considerations will be generally similar to those mentioned above with respect to the housing. Paperboard will therefore be satisfactory. However, glassine lining or other friction reducing interior container surfacing materials should be employed. This of course prevents damage to the insulating covering employed for the wire. Plastic is again suggested as a highly satisfactory material both from a functional and an economical standpoint.

In FIG. 1 the hand of an assembler 54 is shown withdrawing a wire from a container 36, having reached through a slot 46 to grasp such wire. It will be noted that but one hand need be employed, and that the operator can instantly see all of the wires arranged before him at a glance and their indexing labels. The taper of the housing as heretofore indicated minimizes workbench interference. It should be noted, however, that the housing and the containers can be inverted and the caps 40 placed upon the opposite ends 38 -of the container members. Although such varrangement leaves the wires 48 readily accessible, space in and around the workbench is generally at a premium and this arrangement would of course require more room.

It is apparent from the above description that the dispenser and storage unit provided by this invention is an extremely effective means for accomplishing economically the storage of numerous wires of varying length and size for easy, accurate and rapid accessibility to an electrical station. Upon job completion, the units may be removed for storage and ystored assembled or disassembled and the container members stored individually or combined in part with other such units in floor use. Although the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that alterations, changes and modifications may be made therein within Cthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rack for the dispensing of wires comprising, in combination, a hollow housing including a front wall and a longer rear wall spaced therefrom and spaced apart side walls each having a tapered lower portion to extend from said front wall to said longer rear wall thereby to define with said front and rear walls a diagonally extending opening, and a plurality of hollow elongated wire container members assembled las a unit and disposed in said housing with frictional .fit to extend longitudinally of said housing through said diagonally extending opening for end ex posure, said members being Iprovided with access apertures in said exposed ends and arranged in a plurality of rows staggered to conform generally with the configuration of said diagonally extending opening thereby to expose said apertured ends foraccess to wires held within said container members.

2. A rack for the dispensing of wires comprising, in combination, a hollow housing of generally rectangular cross-section including a front wall and a longer rear wall parallel thereto andl spaced therefrom and spaced apart parallel side walls each having a tapered lower end .portion extending obliquely from said front wall to said longer rear wall thereby to define with said front Iand rear walls a diagonally extending opening, and a plurality ofl hollow elongated cylindrical wire storage members assembled as a unit and disposed in said housing with frictional fit to extend longitudinally of said housing through said diagonally extending opening for end exposure, said container members being provided with access apertures at said exposed ends and arranged in rows staggered to conform generally with the configurationl of said diagonally extending opening to expose said apertured ends for access to wires held within said cylindrical container members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,544 lO/29 Rockhoff 312-42 2,485,275 10/49 Geller 312--73 X 3,104,778 9/63 Leonard 312--35 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TRACK FOR THE DISPENSING OF WIRES COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW HOUSING INCLUDING A FRONT WALL AND A LONGER REAR WALL SPACED THEREFROM AND SPACED APART SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING A TAPERED LOWER PORTION TO EXTEND FROM SAID FRONT WEALL TO SAID LONGER REAR WALL THEREBY TO DEFINE WITH SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS A DIAGONALLY EXTENDING OPENING, AND A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW ELONGATED WIRE CONTAINER MEMBES ASSEMBLED AS A UNIT AND DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING WITH FRICTIONAL FIT TO EXTEND LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID HOUSING THROUGH SAID DIAGONALLY EXTENDING OPENING FOR END EXPOSURE, SAID MEMBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH ACCESS APERTURES IN SAID EXPOSED ENDS ARRANGED IN A PLURALITY OF ROWS STAGGERED TO CONFORM GENERALLY WITH THE CONFIGURATION OF SAID DIAGONALLY EXTENDING OPENING THEREBY TO EXPOSE SAID APERTURED ENDS FOR ACCESS TO WIRES HELD WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEMBERS. 